Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to present his 'victory plan' to European Union leaders in Brussels on Thursday in a bid to end the ongoing war with Russia. The EU, a key supporter of Ukraine, will hear Zelenskyy's five-point plan aimed at resolving the conflict that has been ongoing for over 2 1/2 years.
Zelenskyy will also meet with NATO defense ministers to discuss the plan, which includes an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO and the use of Western-supplied longer-range missiles to target military sites in Russia. However, there has been some reluctance among Kyiv's allies to fully support these measures.
While NATO has acknowledged Zelenskyy's plan, Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized the need for further discussions to understand its implications. The draft copy of the EU summit conclusions reaffirms the bloc's commitment to providing comprehensive support to Ukraine until the conflict is resolved, emphasizing that 'Russia must not prevail.'
As Ukrainian forces face challenges in the eastern Donetsk region against Russian troops, Western assistance has been crucial. However, concerns about being drawn into a broader conflict with Russia have led some countries, including the US and Germany, to advocate for delaying Ukraine's NATO membership until the conflict is resolved.
Despite NATO's declaration of Ukraine's path to membership, the organization is currently in a holding pattern due to the upcoming US presidential election. European allies anticipate limited progress on Ukraine until a new president assumes office in January.
The situation remains fluid as Ukraine continues to resist Russian advances with Western support, underscoring the complex dynamics at play in the region.
